Major Hause, the government’s agent in Europe, has purchased, up to this time, 157,000 stand of arms, besides many cannon, much ammunition, quartermaster’s stores, etc. A portion was lost in transitu, however, but not a large amount. Besides the large sums he has expended, he has obtained credit to the extent of $6,000,000!
They are calling for a guard at Petersburg against incendiaries. A factory was burned the other night. This is bad.
Scully and Lewis, condemned to die as spies, have been pardoned by the President, and are to be sent North.
Another dispatch from Gen. Lee, dated 3½ p.m., says the enemy has nearly completed his bridge, and will probably commence crossing this evening or in the morning. The bulletin boards in the city purport to give intelligence of the passage having been effected in part; but I do not see how the editors could have obtained their information.
At 6 p.m., passengers by the Fredericksburg train (which left at 1 p.m.) report the shelling of the town, and a great battle in progress on this side of the river. I doubt both; and I saw but one excited man (a Jew) who said he was in Fredericksburg when the shelling began. I do not believe it. The cars were not within four miles of the town, and perhaps merely conjectured the cannonading they heard to be directed at the town. There were no ladies or children in the cars. But doubtless the enemy will cross the river, and there will be a battle, which must result in a great mortality.
December 12th.—The enemy have possession of Fredericksburg, and succeeded in crossing a large portion of their force three miles below, on their pontoon bridge. Up to 3 p.m. to-day, we have no other intelligence but that “they are fighting.” We shall know more, probably, before night.
The President has passed through East Tennessee on his way to Mississippi.
Lieut.-Col. Nat Tyler, publisher of the Enquirer, the organ of the government, was in my office this morning, denouncing Mr. Memminger, Secretary of the Treasury. He says Mr. M.’s head is as worthless as a pin’s-head. He also denounced the rules of admission to our Secretary, adopted by Mr. R. G. H. Kean, Chief of the Bureau, and asked for a copy of them, that he might denounce them in his paper. It appears that Mr. Jacques is to say who can see the Secretary; and to do this, he must catechize each applicant as to the nature of his business. This is deemed insulting by some of the hot bloods, and will make friend Mr. J.’s position rather a disagreeable and derogatory one.
December 13th.—After all, Fredericksburg was severely shelled—whether designedly or incidentally in the fight, does not yet appear.
Our army has fallen back a little—for a purpose. Lee knows every inch of the ground.